Yesterday, former state Sen. Lynda Moss (D) announced she is ending her campaign for the state’s at-large congressional district. Ms. Moss had raised only $32,000 for the campaign with a paltry $38,000 cash-on-hand. She admitted that poor fundraising was the main reason behind her departure. Democrats still have plenty of candidates, however.

Three active contenders are all raising credible money. Non-profit environmental organization executive Grant Kier leads the group of challengers with $433,000 in his campaign account. Close behind in the money race is attorney John Heenan with $386,000 in political assets. Former state Rep. Kathleen Williams lags behind with just $140,000. Incumbent Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Bozeman), who was elected in a special election last May, has just under $1 million ($947,000) in the bank. The freshman Representative is favored for re-election.

We now see a slate of official Republican Senate candidates in the Montana race hoping to oppose two-term incumbent Jon Tester (D). The candidate filing period drew to a close on Friday. As expected, state Auditor Matt Rosendale, former District Judge Russell Fagg, state Sen. Al Olszewski (R-Flathead Valley), and businessman Troy Downing all submitted the candidate declaration documents. The June 5th Republican primary winner will face Sen. Tester who is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The Green and Libertarian parties will also have a presence on the general election ballot. Sen. Tester is favored for re-election and just began his preliminary media advertising blitz last week.

Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Bozeman) was elected in a May special election that drew national attention. As candidate filing closed Friday in Big Sky Country, six Democrats officially entered the June 5th plurality primary contest to challenge the new Congressman in November. Among the half-dozen contenders are former state Sen. Lynda Moss, ex-state Rep. Kathleen Williams, and attorney and author Jared Pettinato. Rep. Gianforte is favored to win a full term in the 2018 election.

WPA Intelligence just completed a Montana Senate Republican primary survey (2/5-6; 401 MT likely GOP primary voters) and finds state Auditor Matt Rosendale jumping out to a double-digit lead over businessman Troy Downing, retired state judge Russell Fagg, and state Sen. Al Olszewski. According to the WPA data, Mr. Rosendale has a 28-12-11-5% advantage over the other three in the listed order. Other candidates record less than 4 percent. The winner of the June Republican primary faces two-term Sen. Jon Tester (D) in what is forecast as a difficult challenger campaign.

New at-large Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-Bozeman), who was elected in the late May special election (50-44%) to replace Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (R), is already drawing a large field of Democratic challengers. In the past few days, two former state legislators have joined the Democratic primary battle for the state’s lone congressional seat. Former state Sen. Lynda Moss (D-Billings) and ex-state Rep. Kathleen Williams (D-Bozeman) announced their candidacies that now expand the Democratic candidate field to seven contenders. Still, no word as to whether Democratic special election nominee Rob Quist will again run. Mr. Quist’s campaign spent more than $6.6 million during the special election contest.

Weeks ago state District Court Judge Russell Fagg (R) announced that he was retiring from the bench and subsequently formed a US Senate exploratory committee. Now a former judge, Mr. Fagg officially announced yesterday that he will enter the Republican Senatorial primary hoping to challenge two-term Sen. Jon Tester (D). During the exploratory phase, the Judge was able to secure public endorsements from Republican former Governors Marc Racicot (who later became Republican National Committee chairman), Judy Martz, and Stan Stephens, along with ex-US Reps. Denny Rehberg (R-Billings), and Rick Hill (R-Helena), thus signifying his credibility as a candidate. Mr. Fagg faces state Auditor Matt Rosendale in the Republican primary. The general election favors Sen. Tester, but this will be a competitive campaign.

It seems that some local Montana former politicians did not receive the figurative memo from national Republican sources who seemed to be recruiting State Auditor Matt Rosendale into the Senate race for purposes of challenging two-term Democratic incumbent Jon Tester. Yesterday, former Governors Marc Racicot, also an ex-Republican National Committee chairman, Stan Stephens, and Judy Martz, along with ex-US Reps. Denny Rehberg (R-Billings) and Rick Hill (R-Helena) all endorsed Judge Russell Fagg (R) for the Republican Senatorial nomination. Judge Fagg has yet to officially announce his Senate candidacy, but he is clearly making moves to enter the race. Though this is likely to be a competitive statewide race, Sen. Tester must be rated as a clear favorite for re-election.

Republican Greg Gianforte, who won Montana’s lone at-large congressional district in a late May special election to replace Ryan Zinke after he became Interior Secretary, has drawn his first Democratic opponent for the regular term. With no sign of special election nominee Rob Quist mounting an effort to run again, consumer protection lawyer and Billings restaurant owner John Heenan announced his candidacy for the Democratic congressional nomination. Now as the incumbent, Rep. Gianforte will begin the regular election cycle in the clear favorite’s position. In May, he defeated Mr. Quist, 50-44%.

Republicans are hoping to upgrade their Senate candidate pool, the members of which are vying for the opportunity of challenging two-term Sen. Jon Tester (D), as he prepares to seek re-election. Yellowstone County Judge Russell Fagg (R), who is retiring from the bench later this year, confirms he is considering elective office and appears warm to the idea of challenging Mr. Tester. While he cannot say anything overtly political while still in his judicial post, most political observers believe he will announce his Senate candidacy as soon as he officially steps down.

With former at-large Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Whitefish) now the US Interior Secretary and 2016 gubernatorial nominee Greg Gianforte (R) in the House of Representatives after winning the late May special election, the Republican leadership is still searching to find a strong opponent for Sen. Jon Tester (D). The two-term incumbent will be seeking re-election next year. The process will continue because Attorney General Tim Fox (R), who was next in line for the Senate nomination, indicated yesterday that he will not. The two who are running, state Sen. Al Olszewski and businessman Troy Downing, are clearly not who the Republican leadership has in mind for the general election and desires an upgrade of their Big Sky challenger prospects.